Pneumatic tire and process of making the same.



J. H. SEIBERLING.

PNEUMATIC TIRE AND PROCESS OF MAI|NG THE SAME.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8. 1915.

Pzmnted July 11, 19H".

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

J. H. SElBERLING.

PNEUMATIC TIRE AND PROCESS OF MAKING THE SAME.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8, I915.

Patented J uly 11, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JAMES H. SEIBERLING, OF JONESBQRO, INDIANA-v PNEUMA-rrc TIRE AND PROGESS or MAKING THEFSAME,

To all whom/it may concern Be it known that I, JAuEs H. SEIBERLING, a citizen of the United States, .anda resident of Jonesboro, Grant county,Indiana,

have invented a certain new. useful, and Iniproved Pneumatic Tire and Process'of Malting the Same,-of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates primarily to improvements in, the art of making pneumatic tires for motor vehicles, and secondarily to improvements in the form and construction of such tires. I The object of my invention is to reduce the number and the expense of the steps or acts required. for the production of finished pneumatic tires, and to provide single piece tires that shall be "adapted to take the placeof the two-part pneumatic tiresnow in gen eral use, and which shall be capable of rendering protracted service, with less care and at less cost to the user.

Other'and special objects of my invention and the many advantages thereof, clearly appear hereinafter. 3

My invention resides in steps whereby, preferably, the complete tire structure is built up in a green state and is finished in one vulcanizing operation; and the invention incidenta lly includes the product of such process; all .as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a .part of this specification and in which Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of a completed pneumatic tire of clencher form produced by and embodying my invention. Fig-.2 is a like section, showing the tire in its straight-side form. Figs. 3 to 9 inclusive are cross sectional views illustrating the 86"8151l steps in the construction of the tire;

Figs. 3 and 4 showing the core upon which the carcass and tread are formed, and Fig. 9 disclosing the mold in which the tire is vulcanized. Fig. 10 illustrates a' modification of my invention in which I employ the coupler portion as a means for distending or Widening the base of the tire when inflated. Said radial cross sections are so well understood by those skilled in the art, that I have deemed it unnecessary to show the complete annular tire.

My novel tire. in the completed state shown in Figs. 1 and 2, comprises the fol- Specification of Letters Patent.

. Application filed May. 8, 1915.

Patented July 11, 1916. Serial No. 26,779.

lowing parts, to-wit: the closed lining, A; the open carcass, B, including the separated base P01110115 or beads, B, B the flexible base coupling, C,; andthe carcass covering, or treadportion, D, containing the strips, D. Thetarcass, B, including the coupler flaps, G, is chiefly composed of cotton, or other strong fabric, impregnated with rubber; and the strips, D", are of the same or similar. fabric, All'ot'ner portions are composed of rubber. the natural and artificial compositions commonly used in pneumatic tires. All these parts are integrally united by vulcanization and therefore constitute a single piece pneumatic tire, shaped to fit the flanged rim of a motor vehicle wheel. The valve stem, E, is positioned between the base portions, B,

and is permanently and tightly secured by the vulcanization of the parts. No separate.

By rubber I mean inner air tube is required, for in this tire the rubber lining, C, takes the placeof the usualinner tube. As shown by Figs-1 and 2, the base beadsof the tire may be of clencher form or of straight-side form.

Both views presentbase beads that are united by the couplers or flap's, 0, above mentioned. The inner lining is preferably comparatively thick to overcome minor forces tending to puncture it, but it'should be understood that its chief oiiice is to makeairthe covering are all one, the tire in largemeasure self-healing-in case of puncture. The parts cannot separate and hence the difiiculty commonly presented by the lodgment of sharp particles betweenthe carcass and lining is entirely obviated. In event repair of the interior of the tire becomes neces sary I find it very easy to open or cut the flexible coupler portion, then repair the injured part and afterward patch and revulcanize the flexible couplers. My-tire compared with others of the same wall-thickness may be made with less material and in manufacture involvesless waste than others, and as hereinafter explained it is made by a simpler and less expensive process. Its low cost coupled with its obvious advantages in use make it a very acceptable substitute for the two pieoe tires of common type. My tire possesses the further advantage that it ti ht the carcassor casing proper, which is may be carried as a spare tire, in anpartially :tion of" 1jn invention infwhich. the coupler -p ()l't-10Il,' C instead o f--.extend1ng"straight across from one edge or base portion to. the .other, is crnnped or bent-.outwa-rdl i that is,

inflated condition. -That gives assurance of its soundness and goes toward its better preset-ration. In the matter, of placing the tire upon fixechflanged rims."n1y tires work hkeothers, for the couplers, C,'\\l1icl1-pre rent undue distention of the base port-ions,

do not prevent the-closing together ofthose portlons. to enter-the beads between-the rim flanges.

n-Fig. 10 I have illustrate c'l-a niodilicatoward the center of the t'ire sectio n. Bylso forming theibase of the tire I make it moreeasilycompressible 1n a .la-t'eral direct-ion when not inflatethand proviaea; device which distends or thrusts, the opposedjbase-"beads put-ward when theti're is inflated/This crimp or bend, ap'pear-i-nginj the-cross section of the tire, is in. reality a circumferem' tial fold which forin's'a V-shaped groove, C,

in the inner peripherv of the tire,- and inter.-

. 'rupted only at the vali'e-ste n point; This obviou's "modification off -tlien' old shown in.

9. .lt- .will be ObSGPVGClt-llfill the opposed .30

-- extend toward-one another foi'- a.; shortdis'-' formation is secured by an ap'propria te i and coupler flaps, constituting the couplerjC,

- tance virtually i-njthefp'lanes, of respec' tive I 11' base beads or edges, forniingthe fiaps C."

and are thence bent outwardly or -u15 i'aijdly to p-rovi'de "the described partial fold or crimp.) in thisy-inanner sharp; turns are avoided-at theirelatively rigid "toe-points of sis base beads in 1' be. of either? the base be-ads, afi'ording desirable durability. The lining AVis ap'plied-o "e r;thecoupler before described but, preferably substantiallyconforms to the change outline of the eoupler portion. thusi-p'rovidi ng theraised internal ridge A". f-Su'ch at-ire base ma y: be compressed in a lateral or transverse direction at times when t-he tire' isnot inflated, .\'l'ier-:as,'upon the infiatlon'of the tire,-

the bent or cri nped coujple i' ;act s after the manner of Q a toggl lever between 1 the op posed base portions',- and thrusts them up w'ardlv; thereby markedly increasing the p i friction and grip of. the tire upon the flanges of the contain ng wheel run.' As in dicated by dotted lines'in'Fig; 10. the tire straight-side fern] as desired.

The novel process. of which- -the"aho\-'e described t-ira: is the productgrequires veryfew tools or implements. For the. purpose, I preferably provide a carcass core. 1, (see Fig's..3 and a): a i'ulmnizingz' nioid 3 (see 9) and suitable hand tools, such as are common in the tirc'nialu-fs art. A

As indicated in Fig. 3. the metal carcass core, 1. is of a? form dcternnned by the shape of, the tire to be made. is'centered and arm or spoke of such a'spider.

Thi s is done "by stretching; forming and .and separate terrninal beads, B, oft-he.car.

forming the outer .layeris of such width tl atj '3' afterit isa'pplied its edges hangireely from "I the inner toes of the base 'beads, B-', forming flaps-or flanges, C each ofsufiicient-iwidtlr':

--0f the base-coupler. Ci fAfter coinpletingca'ss. B. as shown'in lm ready :the lining, W place the latter within the fca jcass B.31s? fsl-iown'i'n Fig. 7, springingftlm base-portions;-

c-lencher or' supported by the usual spider, 1, being an.

The first step of my process consists in" forming the carcass, B. upon the core, 1.

stitching successive layers ofyfabricthereon, and concurrently forming the. two opposed,

0355, which terininals'are commonly base beads or base portions. All thisis done ks in the usual manner, eXceptthatbefore p'la the underlying layers... The pieo'e -oflf-abric to bridge the gap between said baseportions;-I' B, B as required for the .la'teriorniation' 85} the carcass in the manner described. I next apply thecoveringor-tread portio'lnjD, in"

the usual manner, as shown inIFig-si. T here;- after I strip the-carcass fromitl'ie core. 1 then presents theappearance shownin'FigLZ 5. As a concurrent orneXti step, form-as'heet; A, of raw-or greem rubber into endless tube; b llnlt-lI1 g lli$; e ds; and lap-j ping and pressing its edges upon; .one another as showninflFigzl 61 Aftriperforat f ing" the endless tube .at Tone point; insert.- in the perforation the lIQX Cl-QEfQ Of: thefi'netal apart zto reccirei the then tubular l ning. A; within-the carcass lap ping and closing thefla-ps,"C=-.-ou e upon-"the;

other. as indicated in Fig.*-7. T hc.jla1'i ping of the flap's atthe'valrestei'n point-isallowedf I by perforating both" {lzi'psf C- "atthatfpoint to recei.\'e the -"val\'e stein. E; ;The* ni lt"and waslrcr Eciio f' the ii'ali'ei's teinis thens'crewed ii honie jupoirt-he ste n and acts agaii'ist'the' coupler portion. Cg tofdrawfthe'lmi'er part a of the lining; A, into contacttherewith ad- I T;- jZICQllCiIllB 'vali'e 'stexn. This operation. is

.clearl-y showni'inf Having'i'ea'ched *I this stage the green structuie-ortire isthen ready tobe vulcanizedi- :Toj such ejnd I- in? close the same in,squirted'lnold 3. without change in the position of t'he-Ivalve. stein.

The .inold is foimedto receive and "make a bolts, 3 After thus placing the green tire in the mold, I first inject a small quantity of water through the'valve stem, E, and then fully inflate thetire with air also through the valve stem, E. Thereupon I place the mold and contained'tire in a suitable vulcanizer and heat the same to a temperature and for a length of time determined by the experience of the operator and the service 'forwhich the tire is' intended. The water within the tire-expands as steam and the combined pressure of air and steam effectually distends the tire within the mold and thus gives the tire the uniform dimensions of the mold and eliminates all inequalities and wrinkles in the fabric of the tire. The process or method of manufacturing the tire is not materially modified in dealing with the form depicted'in Fig. 10, and therefore need notbe described in its special application thereto.

It will be observed that in my process I preferably do not subject the carcass and tread to even partial-vulcanization before finally vulcanizing the tire as a whole in the described mold. Nevertheless, I wish it understood that the interpolation of such a step would not modify or exceed the scope of my invention. Upon the removal of the vulcanized tire from the mold it presents the appearance depicted in Fig. 1, or if the mold be of the straight side character, the appearance presented in Fig. 2. To those skilled in the art it will at once be apparent that in my process I produce the completed readyto-use tire by few and very simple operations and wholly avoid the necessity for special treatment of the inner walls of the carcass and the need for a separate and delicate inner tube.

As indicated above, various modifications of my invention will readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, and therefore I do not limit my invention to the details of the foregoing description.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure .by Eetters Patent 2-? 1. The herein described improved pneu matic tire, comprising in combination, a carcumferential inner toes, the edges of one of said layers being extended inwardly beyond respective toes and being lapped one upon the other and forming a flexible, but substantially inextensible, coupling between said separated base beads, an inflatable air tight lining within the annular chamber formed by said carcass and coupling, and a covering or tread on said carcass, the whole constituting a unitary vulcanized structure.

2. The herein described improved pneumatic tire, comprising in combination, a carcass composed of layers of carcass fabric, the edges of which layers are augmented by other material and formed into separate, and

widely separated, thickened base beads having circumferential inner toes, the edges of one of said layers being extended inwardly beyond respective toes and being lapped one upon the other and forming a flexible, but

substantially inextensible, coupling between said separated base beads, an outwardly exi tending circumferential bead being formedy in said coupling and being of less width, leaving straight juncture portions C" at the edges of said toes, an inflatable air tight linmg within the annular chamber formed by said carcass and coupling, and a covering or tread on said carcass, the whole constituting a unitary vulcanized structure.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set mv hand this 6th day of May, 1915, in the presence of'two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES H. SEIBERLING.

Witnesses:

W. R. MEEK, DE Wrr'r CARTER. 

